PUMPING UP VOLUME

CHICAGO (FNS) -- What started as a knee-jerk response to convenience-store competition a few years ago now appears to be a lasting trend in the supermarket industry.Nearly 500 U.S. supermarkets, ranging in size from small independents to Wal-Mart Supercenters, now feature gas pumps at their locations.And some industry experts predict that figure will grow 50% to 60% to approximately 800 supermarkets